Drier



w. DONATO DRIER Au 21. 1928. msmvs Filed Nov. 18, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 7 i Zz'am fioimia,

W. DONATO Aug. 21. 1928.

DRIER Filed Nov. 18, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet WzZZzZzm flaimia,

W. DONATO Aug. 21, 1928.

DRIER Filed Nov. 18, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 2g gnoentoz iI Z'ZZz'am 17022420.

Aug. 21, 1928.

w. DONATO DRIER Filed Nov. 18, 192

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i M Q v gwmntoz William flank/Z0.

Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

WILLIAM DONATO, OF DETBOIT, MICHIGAN.

DRIER.

Application filed November 18, 1926. Serial No. 149,102.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in driers.

The primary object of the invention is a provision of a mechanical drier which is designed more particularly for the treatment of'clothing, although as the description proceeds it will be apparent that the device is not necessarily restricted to such use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a able type, wherein the entire mechanism of the device is housed within a cabinet and may be removed readily as one unit for repairing or cleaning the same.

A still further object of the inventionis the provision of drier mechanism of the endless conve or type wherein the conveyors are supporte by improved forms of rollers journaled in novel bearings, a portion of the latter being non-adjustable, while the re-' mainder are adjustable to permit the conveyors to be kept under proper tension.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of the blower type for forcing air past a heating unit and on through the mesh of the conveyors for treating the articles movedalong the latter, the said blower and conveyors having a common source of motor power, whereby the blower will not be active when the conveyors are out of operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide the entrance-for the articles to be treated with means for preventing loss of heat from the cabinet and the discharge of heated air against the person feeding articles through the opening, the said means functioning automatically to permit articles to enter.

Other objects vention will be apparent during the course of the following description:

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire drier embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view, Figure 4 is'a top plan view of the drier with the cover removed,

drier of the wheeled or port and advantages of the in- Figure 5 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of the Working mechanism of the drier which is removable from the housing cabinet as a-unit,

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the conveyor mechanism, the heated air producing means, and the connection between the same,

Figure 7 is a detail view of a form of roller supporting bearing,

Figures 8 and 9 are detail views of a different type of roller supporting'bearing,

Figures 10 and 11 are detail views of nonadjustable roller supporting bearings, and Figure 12 is a fragmentary end view of one of the conveyor supporting rollers, part of the same being broken away to better illustrate its construction.

. In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 15 designates the body portion of the cabinet housing the drier mechanism, the said cabinet being of the wheeled type whereby the same may be readily moved from place to place.

The upper end or top of the cabinet 15 is closed by a cover 16 having the top wall 17 and the spaced bottom walls 18. The space between these walls 18 is filled with insulating material 19 having the form of a corrugated sheet with the valleys of the corrugations filled or packed with comminuted material of an insulating characteristic.

At one end ofthe cabinet 15 is an opening 20 through which the articles to be dried are inserted into the cabinet. Associated with this opening and projecting slightly into the same is a hinged shelf 21 supported in its operative position by a pivoted brace 22.

At the opposite end of the cabinet and positioned in thelower half of the same is an opening 23 which is normally closed by the hinged door 24 having the locking mechanism 25, see Figs. '1 and 2. Just inwardly of the opening 23, the floor 15 of the cabinet is formed with an opening 26 through Which articles having been dried by the mechanism within the cabinetmay be dis-' charged onto any suitable conveyor means. The vertically inclined chute 27 is provided for conducting the dried articles from the discharge end of the drier conveyors to be described at a later If desired, a suitable receptacle may be pg.

point, to theopening 26.

sitioned in the space between the chute 27 and the door 24 for catching the articles as they are discharged from the conveyor- Such a rece taclewill be inserted and removed throug the opening 23.

Removably positioned within thecablnet 15 through its open top is a skeleton frame designated in its entirety by the reference character 28, and best illustrated in Figure 5. This frame comprises side sections each of which includes top and bottom bars 29 and 30 respectively, an end bar 31 which extends vertically, and a pair of spaced bars 32 and 33 which extend vertically at the remaining end. These side portions are joined together and maintained in proper spaced relation by the transverse tie rods 34.

Figure 5 shows a bearing 35 which 18 secure to the vertical bar 32 at the broken away 7 portion of the same. The vertical bar 33 is broken away at two places to illustrate the :bearings 36 which are secured to this bar.

The top bar 29 also is broken away to illustrate one of the bearings 35 which is secured to the same. It is to be understood that the remaining side portion of the frame 28 has similar bearings 35 and 36 secured to the same bars 29, 32, and 33. The vertical'bar 31 is broken away to illustrate'the slightly declined bearings 37 which are secured to this bar. The bar 31 for the opposite side portion of the frameis also provided with similar bearings. The exact construction of all of these hearings will be described in detail at a later point in connection with Figures 8 to 11, inclusive.

Positioned inwardly of each side portion of the frame 28 is a guard plate- 38 that is coing secured to said frame by the upper tie rods 34 in the manner best illustrated in Figure 2. These guard plates 38 are-spaced inwardly of the side portions of the frame 28 to provide a space for housing the various bearings 35 to 37, inclusive. 7

Figure 10 shows in detail the bearin 35' which includes a plate having the journa receiving opening 35* formed therein. This plate is divided into two parts by the angular division line 35* which intersects the opening 35?. Suitable apertures 35 are provided in this plate for receivin any desired form of fastening means, not s own.

Figure 11 shows in detail the bearing 36. This bearing consists of a plate having the diagonally-spaced journal receiving openings 36!, The plate is divided into two parts or sections by the angular division line 36* which intersects both of the journal openin 36". This bearing is likewise provided with astenmeans receiving apertures which are designated 36.

In Figures 8 and 9 the bearings 37 are illustrated in detail. It will be notedthat the two bearings 37 in Figure 5 are of different length, The longitudinal dimension 6f the base portion 38 of these two bearings is the only difference between the same. Extending longitudinally of the side edges of the base 38 are the guide ways 39. Slidable between these guide ways is a plate 40 having the journal receiving opening 41 formed therein. One end of the base 38 is provided with a laterally projecting flange 42 having threaded therein a rod 43 held in adjusted position by the lock nut 44. The end of this member 43 positioned inwardly of the flange 42 and between the guide ways 39 is rovidcd with an enlargement 45' taking the orm of a lock nut. The bearing plate 40 has suitably securedthereto a pin 46 which projects toward the inner end of the threaded member 43. Encircling these coaxial members 43 and 46 is a tension spring 47 which yieldably urges the plate 40 away from the end flange 42.

The bearings 35 to 37, inclusive, are intended for receiving conveyor belt supporting rollers of the type best illustrated in Figure 12. Each roller includes a section of tubing 48 which has sweated in each end thereof the enlarged shank 49 of a journal 50. The flange 51 is formed on the shank 49 for abutment with the tube section 48 to form a flange for the tube section. Althou h each of the rollers supported by the bcarlngs 35 to 37, inclusive, are of similar construction, they will each be given a separate reference character to better aid in distinguishing the same.

With reference to Figures 2 and 5, the roller 52 is supported in the bearings 35 carried by the top bars 29 of the frame sides. The rollers 53 and 54 are carried by the u per bearing plates 36 supported by the side ars 33 while the rollers 55 and 56 are supported,

by the lower bearings 36 carried by the side bars 33. The roller 57 is supported bythe bearings 35 carried by the vertical side bars 32.- The upper short bearings 37, carried by the vertical end bars 31 support the roller 58 and permit this roller to be adjusted away from the roller 57. The roller 59 is supported by the lower and longer bearings 37 carried by the vertical end bars 31 of the frame 28. These supporting bearings 37 permit the roller 59 to be adjusted toward its end of the cabinet 15. The guard plates 38 are slotted at 38 to permit this adjustment of the roller 59.

Trained over the rollers 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 59 is the endless conveyor 60 which is of which acts as the receiving flight while the other acts as the discharge flight. The conveyor 61 acts as an intermediate flight which receives the articles dropped from the diecharge end of the upper flight and "conveys the articles to the receiving end of the discharge flight.

Between the rollers 54 and 56 is a transversely extending guard 62 which is supported at its ends by the side guard plates 38 and functions to prevent articles from being caught between the conveyor 60 and the roller 56 as they pass from the discharge end of the conveyor 61 onto the discharge flight of the conveyor 60. v

For producing the desired drying heat within the cabinet 15, aunit is mounted in the lower part of the same and is supported by the transversely extending platform 63 connected at its ends to the bottom bars 30 of the frame 28. It will befnoted that the unit extends transversely of the cabinet and is located nearer the entrance end thereof. This unit includes a tunnel-like casing 64 having its open end 65 placed in alinement with the screen covered opening 66. The remaining end of the casing is closed by the plate 67. Mounted at the end 65 of the casing 64 is an electric motor 68 having a shaft 69 extending through the casing 64 and projecting fromthe end covered" by the plate 67 to be supported by the bracket 70. Mounted on this shaft inwardly of the end plate 67 is a blower unit 71. Projecting perpendicularly from the casing 64 above the blower 71 is a nipple 72 having mounted thereon the transversely elongated blower discharge nozzle 73. Positioned above the mouth of the nozzle 73 is an electric heating element 74 which is supported from the nozzle by the arms 75.

It will be noted that the heating unit will direct a vertical blast of heated air upwardly through the cabinet and that this air must travel downwardly to exhaust through the discharge opening 26. The three conveyor flights extend lengthwise of the cabinet so that they will conduct the articles being dried several times through the blast of air. The said flights are trained over rollers located at different elevations sothat the said flights all will be inclined toward the entranceend of the cabinet and also for a part of their lengths toward the region of the vertical blast of heated air. The inclination of the flights, as illustrated in Fig. 2, will cause the latter to drain moisture away from the discharge end of the cabinet, and, in so far as the receiving and discharging flights are concerned, away from their delivery ends. The moisture escaping from the articlesonto the flights of the conveyor, therefore, will be kept as far as possible in the region of the blast of heated air where it will quickly evaporate.

Figure 3 shows the outer end of the shaft 69 as having mounted thereon a worm gear 76 which meshes with a pinion 77 mounted on the shaft 78. The upper end of this shaft has a worm gear 79 mounted thereon which meshes with a gear 80 on the journal 50 of the roller 55. It will now be'seen that the motor 68, which drives the blower 71, drives the conveyor 60. The rollers 52, 53, 54, 56, and 59 being loose in their bearings, the same will be frictionally driven or rotated by the travel of the conveyor 60. To drive the conveyor 61, a chain connection 81 is provided and is trained over sprocket gears carried by the rollers 54 and 57. This manner of operating the blower 71 and conveyors 60 and 61 by the same source of power insures the-operation of the blower and.conveyors in unison. It will be understood that when the conveyors are inactive, it is unnecessary to forcibly circulate heated air through the cabinet.

It is desirable to prevent the escape of heated air through the entrance opening 20 as the loss of hot air through this opening will not only increase the cost of operation of the drier but will inconvenience the operator feeding articles from the shelf 21 into the' cabinet. It will be noted, by inspecting F igure 2, that the inner end of the shelf-2l closely approaches the conveyor 60 as it passes over the roller 53. This will substantially prevent heated air from passing through the opening 21 between the roller 53 and the shelf. To substantially close the upper portion of the opening, that is to prevent the passage of heat between the upper edge of the opening 20 and the roller 53, a roller 82 is yieldably forced against the conveyor 60 as it passes over the top-'of the roller 53. This roller 82 is the same as the roller illustrated in Figure 12 with the exception that the flange 51 is omitted. The yieldable supports for the opposlte ends of, this roller 82 are illustrated in detail in Figure 7. Each support includes a base 83 liaving the side guiding flanges 84 between which the bearing plate 85 is slidably positioned. The bearing plate is forced downwardly by the spring'86 that-encircles 'ecting perpendicularly from the pin 87 pro the bearing plate 85 and the depending end 88 of the adjustable pin 89 which is threaded in the end flange 90 carried by the base 83. To hold this pin 89 in adjusted position, a lock nut 91 is threaded upon the same and is adapted for being jammed against the flange 90. The upper end of this pin is provided with a centrally apertured head 92 by means of which the pin may be adjusted. v

Extending between the upper portion of the roller 82 and the wall of the cabinet 15 located above the opening 29 is a transversely extending strip 93 which is made of any suitable elastic material that will permit the same to follow the roller 82 in its vertical movement.

Figures 3 and 4 show a hot air let-ofi' connection 94 by means of which any stagnant air may be disharged from the cabinet.

For the purpose of controlling the operation of the electric heating element 74 so that various temperatures may he maintained within the cabinet an adjustable thermostat is mounted upon the cabinet, see Figs. 1 and t. This thermostat is operatively connected with the circuit breaker 96 whereby the circuit to the electric element 74 will be made and broken to maintain the proper temperature. A manually operable switch 97 is mounted on the side of the cabinet at the receiving end of the latter and this switch cont'rols the circuit leading to the thermostat 95, the circuit maker and breaker 96 and the heating clement 7-1 so that the latter may be placed entirely out of operation when desired. The switch 98 mounted upon the cabinet close to the switch 97 is provided for controlling the circuit to the motor (38. It is to be understood that these various controls 95 to 98, inclusive, form no part of this invention as claimed, it being understood that the automatic control of a drier is notoriously old.

The operation of this mechanical drier will now be described:

\Vhen it is desired to dry clothing, or any other type of article that can be handled by this drier, the current to the heating element 74 is turned on and the thermostat J5 set to maintain drying temperature suitable for the particular articles being treated. Ihe motor circuit is then closed and the blower and conveyors will be placed in operation. Clothing, or the like, should then be fed from the shelf 21 against the conveyor 60 as it passes over the exposed portion of the roller 53. The spring pressed roller 82 will aid the conveyor 60 in drawing the articles into the cabinet. The articles will travel along the upper flight of the conveyor 60 until they reach the upper end of the same where they will be dis- (lunged upon the receiving end of the conveyor Gt). This conveyor, forming the middle light of the conveyor system, will carry the articles in the opposite direction and discharge the same upon the lower flight of the conveyor 60. The articles will then travel to the discharge end of this lower flight and will be dropped into the space between the chute 27 and the door 24. where they will be received by a receptacle located in this space or they will gravitate down the chute and be dropped through the opening 26.

It is to be understood that the forms of this invention herewith shown and described are tobe taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, the size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a drier of the type described, a cabinet having entrance and discharge openings, means for feeding articles from the entrance opening to the discharge opening, and a unit below the feeding means for forcing heated air into contact with the traveling articles, said unit comprising a tunnel-like casing coinmunicating at one end with the atmosphere through an opening formed in the cabinet, a blower mounted in said casing, said casing having a discharge nozzle for the blower, a heating element mounted on the nozzle in alinement with its mouth, and an electric motor in the casing located to be cooled by the air entering the casing from the outside of the cabinet.

2. In a drier of the type described, a cabinet having entrance and discharge openings, a cover for the cabinet, 9. frame in said cabinet withdrawable therefrom after the cover is removed, a unit entirely supported by the frame for producing circulation of heated air through the cabinet, and means entirely supported by the frame for feedin articles from the entrance opening to the discharge opening, said unit comprising a blower, a heating element at the discharge for the blower supported by the blower nozzle, :1 motor for driving the blower, and a power connection between the motor and the feeding means whereby the same will operate in unison.

In a drier of the type described, a cabinet having entrance and discharge openin s, a cover for the cabinet, :1 frame in said caiiinet withdrawable therefrom after the cover is removed, a unit entirely supported by the frame for producing a circulation of heated air through the cabinet, and means entirely supported by the frame for feeding articles from the entrance opening to the discharge opening, said unit COIIIPI'lSlIlg a tunnel-like casing communicating at one end with the atmosphere through an openingformed in the cabinet, a blower mounted in said casing, said casing having a discharge nozzle for the blower, a heating element mounted on the nozzle in alinement with its mouth, and an electric motor in the casing located to be cooled by the air entering the casing from the outside of the cabinet.

4. In a drier of the type described, a cabinet having entrance and discharge openings, a cover for the cabinet, a frame in said cabinet withdrawable therefrom after the cover is removed, a unit entirely supported by the frame for producing -a circulation of heated air through the cabinet, means entirely supported by the frame for feeding articles from the entrance opening to the discharge opening, and mechanism carried partly by the frame and partly by the cabinet for automatically preventing the passage of heated air through the entrance opening during the intervals articles are not entering the cabinet.

5. In a drier of the type described, a cabinet having entrance and discharge openings, a cover for the cabinet, a frame in said cabinet withdrawable' therefrom after the cover is removed, a unit entirely supported by the frame for producing a circulation of heated air through the cabinet, means entirely supported by the frame for feedingarticles .from the entrance opening to the discharge opening, and mechanism cooperating with the feeding means for automatically preventing the passage of heated air through the entrance opening during the intervals articles are not entering the cabinet.

6. In a drier of the type described, a conveyor system including a series of superimposed flights and means located below the system for forcing heated air into contact with the commodity on the flights, said means including a tubular casing having air entrance and discharge openings'at opposite ends, a blower in the casing, driving means for the blower located in the casing, an elongated nozzle connected to the discharge opening and extending transversely of the lowest flight of said system, and an air heating unit mounted on and extending longitudinally of the'nozzle and located between the nozzle andthe said flights for heating the air after it leaves the casing.

7. In a drier of the type described, a cabi net having entrance and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof, transversely extending means located near the bottom of the cabinet and toward the entrance end of the latter for directing a vertical blast of heated air through the cabinet, said air being forced to exhaust through the discharge opening,-and means for feeding articles from the entrance opening severaltimes through the blast of heated air and finally for deliveringv the same to the discharge opening.

8. In a drier of the type described, a cabinet having entrance and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof, transversely extending means located'near the bottom of the cabinet and toward the entrance end of the latter for directing a vertical blastof heated air through the cabinet, said air being forced to exhaust through the discharge opening, and means for feeding artlcles from the entrance opening several times through the blast of heated air and finally for delivering the sameto the discharge opening,

7 said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of conveyor flights which are inclined todrain away from the discharge end of the cabinet and toward heated air. I

9. In a drier of the type described, a cabinet having entrance and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof, transversely extending means located near the bottom of the cabinet and toward the entrance end of the latter for directing a Vertical blast of heated air through the cabinet, said air being forced to exhaust through the discharge opening, and means for feeding articles from the entrance opening'several times through the region of the .blast of ,the entrance opening the blast of heated air and finally for deliverthe cabinet and toward the entrance end of a,

the latter for directing a vertical blast of heated air through the cabinet, said air being forced to exhaust through the discharge opening, and means for feeding articles from the entrance opening several times through the blast of heated air and finally for delivering the same to the discharge opening, said last mentioned means comprising two endless conveyors one of which is arranged and supported to form two inclined flights actng to receive and discharge the articles passing through the cabinet and draining away from the discharge end of thecabinet, while the remaining conveyor is arranged and sup ported to form a single inclined flight acting to move the articles from the discharge end of the receiving flight to the receiving end of the dlscharge flight and inclined to drain in the same direction as the aforesaid flights.

11. In a drier of the type described, a tlfiblllfit having entrance and discharge openlngs at opposite ends thereof, transversely extending means located near the bottom of the cabinet and toward the entrance end of the latter for directing a vertical blast of heated air through the cabinet, said air being forced to exhaust through the discharge opening, and means for feeding articles from several times through ing thesame to the discharge opening, said last mentioned means comprising endless conveyors arranged and supported to form a pluralityof flights, adjacent ones of which convey articles in opposite directions and all of said flights being inclined to drain in the same direction. -12. In a drier of the type described, an lnteriorly heated cabinet having an entrance opening, a frame removably positioned in said cabinet, means entirely supported by the said frame for feeding articles from the entrance opening through the cabinet, and mechanism carried partly by the frame and partly by the cabinet for preventing the loss of heat through the entrance opening during the intervals articles are not entering the cabinet.

13. In a drier of the type described, an interiorly heated cabinet having an entrance opening, a frame removably positioned in said cabinet, means entirely supported by said frame for feeding articles from the entrance opening through the cabinet, means carried by the cabinet for preventing the loss of heat through the space between the lower edge of the said opening and the feeding means, and additional means carried partly by the cabinet and partly by the frame for preventing the loss of heat between the upper edge of the opening and the feeding means.

14. In a drier of the type described, an interiorly heated cabinet having an entrance opening, a frame reim 'ably positioned in said cabinet, means entirely supported by said frame for feeding articles from the entrance opening through the cabinet, means carried by the cabinet for guiding articles through the entrance opening onto the feeding means which also cooperates with the lower edge of the opening and the feeding means for preventing loss of heat between the same, and additional means carried partly by the cabinet and partly by the frame for preventing the loss of heat between the upper edge of the opening and the feeding means.

15. In a drier of the type described, an interiorly heated cabinet having an entrance opening, a frame removably positioned in said cabinet, means entirely supported by said frame for feeding articles from the entrance opening through the cabinet, a shelf carried by the cabinet and extending through the entrance opening to guide articles onto the feeding means and being closely positioned to the lower edge of the opening and the adjacent portion of the feeding means so as to prevent loss of heat between the same, and additional means carried partly by the cabinet and partly by the frame for preventing the loss of heat between the upper edge of the opening and the feeding means.

16. In a drier of the type described, an interiorly heated cabinet having an entrance opening, a frame removably positioned in said cabinet, means entirely supported by the said frame for feeding articles from the entrance opening through the cabinet, and. mechanism carried partly by the frame and partly by the cabinet for preventing the loss of heat through the entrance opening during the intervals articles are not entering the cabinet, the said means and the portion of the mechanism carried by the cabinet being displateable to permit of the frame being removed.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM DONATO. 

